Crime & Public Safety

Georgia woman, 2 infants found dead in submerged SUV ruled murder-suicide, cops say

The deaths of a woman and her two infant children in Augusta have been ruled a double murder-suicide by authorities.
The deaths of a woman and her two infant children in Augusta have been ruled a double murder-suicide by authorities.
July 27, 2020

Authorities said they are investigating a murder-suicide after a woman and her two infants were found dead in a submerged SUV in an Augusta pond, according to multiple media reports.

On Friday afternoon, the bodies of Shaquia Philpot and her 10-month-old twin sons, Caysen and Cassius Williams, were found inside a 2010 Nissan Murano, the Augusta Chronicle reported. The family, who was from Hephzibah, drowned in the vehicle, officials said.

A witness who was fishing in the area spotted the vehicle Friday afternoon. Mayor’s Pond is located off Lock and Dam Road.

On Monday, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office ruled the tragic incident a double murder-suicide, the Chronicle reported. Authorities have not determined why she drove the SUV into the water.

The GBI will perform the three autopsies. The incident remains under investigation.

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About the Author

Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.

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